James Gurney

This daily weblog by Dinotopia creator James Gurney is for illustrators, plein-air painters, sketchers, comic artists, animators, art students, and writers. You'll find practical studio tips, insights into the making of the Dinotopia books, and first-hand reports from art schools and museums.

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Imaginative Realism

Dinotopia: The World Beneath

"A ravishing, action-packed adventure." —Smithsonian. Now with 32 extra behind-the-scenes pages. Signed by the author/illustrator

Dinotopia: Journey to Chandara

160 pages, fully illustrated in color. Written and illustrated by James Gurney. Signed by the author

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or by email:gurneyjourney (at) gmail.comSorry, I can't give personal art advice or portfolio reviews. If you can, it's best to ask art questions in the blog comments.

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All images and text are copyright 2015 James Gurney and/or their respective owners. Dinotopia is a registered trademark of James Gurney. For use of text or images in traditional print media or for any commercial licensing rights, please email me for permission.

However, you can quote images or text without asking permission on your educational or non-commercial blog, website, or Facebook page as long as you give me credit and provide a link back. Students and teachers can also quote images or text for their non-commercial school activity. It's also OK to do an artistic copy of my paintings as a study exercise without asking permission.

Wednesday, May 30, 2012

The next issue of ImagineFX magazine (Issue 84) is all about fairy tales. It includes a special feature on Arthur Rackham, with appreciations by Charles Vess, Tom Bagshaw, Brian Froud, and John Howe.

The article says: “As the world around Arthur Rackham became mechanized, he made ancient legends seem real to his Victorian and Edwardian contemporaries.”

John Howe says: "It’s almost as if the soot from the mines and factories has dusted the brilliance of a past inherited from Celtic times, hinted at by Shakespeare, set into folklore by the Elizabethans, rendered quaint and dainty by the Victorians, and finally left behind by the modern world. Arthur affords us a last glimpse, tinted with just a little of the wildness that the Victorians had discarded.”

Rebecca, the museum opens at 12:00 on Sunday, and it's free. I'm planning to go to Jordu's presentation on monsters at 3:00, but I'll try to get there around 1:00 to see all the artwork. Hope to see you there.

Arturo and Jenny, The article talks about the subject you brought up--how Rackham was so understated with his color, even though he was working at the origins of color printing. I love both his approach to color, and Dulac's, which were very different. I always thought that greyed-down color helped the linework read.

Keith, I think they've done a good overview of book art as a career-- both digital and print, and cover and interior illustration. Book art has always been a great calling, especially if you want to connect your pictures to written stories.

This is a fantastic (no pun intended) show, and Jordu's presentation was really wonderful -- informative, inspiring, and very funny. Thanks so much for sharing the news about the exhibit, and so great to have a chance to meet you there!